Rice bowl

Kei Ushigaki trained under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and later established his own kiln in Kagoshima, his grandfather’s homeland.
Seeing Bizen-yaki from the distance of Kagoshima allowed him to rediscover its appeal; this piece embodies that renewed vision.

Fired in the anagama he built in Kagoshima with fine clay, it presents rich Hidasuki together with delicate tobi-goma, both characteristic of wood firing.

Several identical bowls were stacked for the firing. Where the flame was shielded, the surface retains a matte, beige clay color; where the flame struck directly, a dense amber-and-scarlet gradation emerges.

Maintaining a sensible sturdiness while being pleasantly thin, the bowl is light in the hand and easy for daily use, refined in a way that suits modern tables without sacrificing the spirit of Bizen-yaki.

Kei Ushigaki was born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1989.

After graduating from Kyoto Traditional Crafts University in 2013, he studied under Jun Isezaki, honing his ceramic technique.

In 2018, he established himself as an independent potter in Kagoshima Prefecture.